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Africa | The Dogon and the Dama

The Dama is the rite of passage for the men of the Dogon tribe. Conditions must be just right before a Dama can take place, and in the village of Tireli, in Mali, it is the responsibility of the oldest man in the village, the revered "Keeper of the Masks," to determine the timing of the Dama. In this video segment from the series Africa, young men in Tireli feel suspended between boyhood and manhood because there has not been a Dama in the village in 20 years. There is a conflict. A spirit told the village fortune teller that the next Dama would herald the village elder's death, and so the old man believes that if he organizes a Dama he will die.

The following Frame, Focus and Follow-up suggestions are best suited for middle school students using this video in an English language arts or social studies lesson. Be sure to modify the questions to meet your students' instructional needs.

Frame (ELA) Do you ramble or include information that is not relevant when telling a story or a joke? Do you know someone who does this? Sometimes you can’t figure out the story because there are too many details that are irrelevant, while information that is important to know is left out. Describe an experience you've had that is similar.

Focus (ELA) There are many details and ideas presented in the story of the Dama and the Dogon. Listen carefully and determine what information is irrelevant. Also, make a note of what information you still don’t understand. What questions does the story leave you with?

Follow Up (ELA) Discuss the main idea of the story. Then discuss what information presented in the video was irrelevant to understanding the main idea. Do youthink there was information missing? Why do you think that? Based upon the information present, how would you organize the elements of the story you consider relevant to tell a better rite of passage story?

Frame (SS) Sometimes books or movies are labeled as rite of passage stories. What is a rite of passage? What books or movies do you know that are about a character completing some task or ritual to show the character has grown up?

Focus (SS) In the video, determine what the Dogon’s rite of passage is and why it is so important to them.

Follow Up (SS) Discuss the village Dama. Compare it to rites of passage in your own culture. What tasks or rituals are young people (men and women) expected to perform to show they are growing up?

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